It was more than entertainment. It was a soul revival.
People from all walks of life stepped up to the mic to share their truth. Their humor. Their heartbreak. Their journey. And somewhere in the listening, I found a piece of myself again.
This WHRO article captured the heart of the festival beautifully:
Artists showcase heart and humor at Hampton Storytelling Festival – WHRO
The Power of Story
We all have a story. Whether we whisper it, write it, or live it loudly, it matters.
Your story may not be perfect. It may be messy, unfinished, or hard to tell. But that does not make it any less valuable.
One thing I walked away with is this: If you don’t tell your story, who will?
Not just the highlights, not just the struggles, but the moments in between. The quiet strength. The unspoken hope. The chapters you are still trying to write.
Write It as You Go
This is your reminder to write the story as you live it. That might mean journaling. That might mean blogging or recording voice notes. Or maybe it just means pausing now and then to reflect.
If something needs to be rewritten or rebooted, so be it. Life gives us that option. You can pivot. You can start a new chapter.
But what you cannot do is go back in time.
Write now. Live now.
Love, Light, and the Spark Again
I did not expect to walk away from a storytelling festival feeling a little bit like I remembered how it felt to love. Not love someone, specifically. But just love life.
To feel alive.
That quiet inner warmth, like when the pages of your story are starting to turn again after being stuck for a while.
That is what the festival did for me.
The Ending Will Come
We do not get to avoid the ending. Every story has one.
What we do get to decide is how we live while the story is still unfolding.
So take the trip. Make the call. Quit the thing that is killing your spirit. Live the story that makes you proud.
Not perfect. Just real.
Your Story Matters
Whether you are writing your first page or revising the middle, your story matters.
Tell it before you are gone. Tell it while you are living it.
And never forget that your story might be the one someone else needs to hear.
Want help telling your story? That is what The Black Folder Project is here for.
Keep going. Keep writing. Keep living.